Using a web-based repository to integrate testing tools into programming courses

Abstract

Improving the quality of software developed in the 21st century is one of the major challenges in the software industry. Addressing this problem will require that academic institutions play a key role in training developers to produce high quality software. Unfortunately, students and instructors continue to be frustrated by the lack of support provided when selecting appropriate testing tools and program analyzers to verify programs under development.In this paper we present an approach that integrates the use of software testing tools into programming and software engineering courses. The approach consists of three phases, developing an online repository with learning resources, training instructors in the area of testing techniques and tools, and integrating the use of testing tools into various programming courses. We also present the results of the first instructors' workshop and studies on integrating testing tools into two courses, CS2 and Software Engineering (SE).

A User Interface (UI) and User eXperience (UX) evaluation framework for cyberlearning environments in computer science and software engineering education

“…Of course, it is impossible to study cyberlearning without the use of technology itself [2]. The best way researchers have found to investigate potential advances is to design learning experiences and study them [3,4,5,6,7,8]. This is our motivation in our work with SEP-CyLE.…”

Collaborative web-based learning of testing tools in SE courses

“…The three phases include: (1) developing an online portal of learning resources that supports pedagogy in the area of software testing, particularly the use of testing tools; (2) holding a series of annual workshops for instructors that introduce them to software testing techniques and tools available through WReSTT, and (3) performing studies to determine the effectiveness of WReSTT and the instructors' workshop on improving student learning. Clarke et al [5] describe WReSTT and report on the first instructors' workshop. In this paper we focus on integrating collaborative learning into WReSTT and report the preliminary results of a study performed in two SE courses.…”

“…WReSTT currently contains learning materials for several tools, including: JUnit [12] -a unit testing framework and SWAT [25] -Simple Web Automation Toolkit, among others. Clarke et al [5] provide a more complete description of the first version of WReSTT.…”

“…Although we focus on SE courses in this paper, the problem of developing quality software should be addressed in courses earlier in the computing curriculum e.g., CS1-CS3. Clarke et al [5] describe a threephase project that supports the integration of testing into programming courses supported by a Web-Based Repository of Testing Tools (WReSTT). WReSTT contains tutorials on testing concepts and testing tools.…”

“…The cornerstone of our approach is the interaction students have with WReSTT. Unlike the original version of WReSTT described in [5], the updated version (WReSTT V2) employs the use of both collaborative learning and social networking features that are attractive to students. WReSTT V2 is currently in the beta stage and is still being updated to reflect the improvements recommended by the students in the study.…”